Part of the linear boundary known as the Wansdyke 420m south west of Barrowmead Cottage

Scheduled area

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History & significance

The Wansdyke is an ancient linear earthwork of considerable extent running across the landscape of southern England, with this particular section located 420 metres south west of Barrowmead Cottage in Somerset forming part of the scheduled monument record. The dyke is a substantial bank and ditch construction that dates to the post-Roman period, likely constructed during the 5th or 6th century AD, representing a significant boundary feature of the early Anglo-Saxon era. This section of the monument preserves the characteristic physical form of the wider Wansdyke system, consisting of a raised bank with an associated ditch that would have functioned as a territorial or defensive demarcation. The monument's scheduling reflects its archaeological importance as evidence of early medieval settlement patterns, land division, and political boundaries in the region during the transitional period following the end of Roman Britain.

Part of the linear boundary known as the Wansdyke 420m south west of Barrowmead Cottage is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1007005. View the official record →

Questions & answers

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